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‘Red Barn’ celebrates 5th

This Spring marks the 5th anniversary of the Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway Interpretive Center in Broken Bow - better known as “The Red Barn” travel center. Since its opening in April 2009, The Barn has had more than 16,000 visitors representing all 50 states and 32 foreign countries. The Barn has seen a steady increase in visitors each year - and last year saw a nearly 10 percent increase in traffic from the year before. In 2012, more than 4,000 people visited The Barn, and Chard Hirsch with the Custer County Tourism Council is excited to see what this year will bring. In celebration of its 5th year, The Barn hosted a three-day open house this past weekend. The Barn was open from 1-5 p.m. each day serving cookies and lemonade, and inviting guests to come in and tour the exhibits. Hirsch says the success The Barn has enjoyed would not be possible without the help of so many dedicated volunteers. More than 140 volunteers have given of their time to assist travelers and visitors at The Barn. Perhaps an even more astounding statistic is that 93 percent of the 27 volunteers for 2013 have been giving their time all five years. The ‘Red Barn’ is now open for the season: Monday -Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 - 5 p.m.